The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-06-30

the oldest living visitor-that is, except
me. We were there just thirty eight
years ago when there was nothing but
the spring and an humble co.;age on the
hill, and my good friend Judge Butts
was shooting deer all around there. He
has to go farther now, but he talks about
his youthful exploits with an JUNCTION
that is quite becoming to ante.diluyian.
Thirty~eight years ago my bride and I
rode up to the old Griffin tavern that
had sign.board suspended in front with
the welcome words, Entertainment for
man and beast" painted thereon. We
always Travelled with beast then. These
signs would have said "horse" instead of
beast, for it is more respectful to that
noble animal, but horse wouldn't
include mules nor speers, and 80 beast
was the best compromise. We were
travelling il the highest style of pre-.
historic luxury. The fine old carriage
was gracefully suspended between four
large goose neck springs and the steps
we're folded in the panels of the doors
and we're let down like little carpeted
staircase, and the bride or any other
patrician lady ascended and descended
as daintily as queen. The fair ladies
didn't step as high then as they do now.
Mr.. Griffin was a gentleman of the old
school and met us at the threshold and
gave us' glad welcome. Always digni-
fed, graceful and genial and cultivated,
he was the welcome associate of the
highest in the land. Lumpkin and War
ner and Nesbit and the bar that practiced
in their court-the "Supreme court" as
DR.. Miller and Ben Hill called it, were
always glad to be guests at that inn and
to feast upon Mrs. Grifin's famous batter
cakes. There were no such cakes made
in the State, they said. They were
nearly half an inch thick and light and
porous inside and beautifully brown on
the out. There are as good cakes made
now, reckon, but they don't taste like
they used to. As Bob Martin said, II
would give FIVE hundred dollars if gin.
ger cake tasted as good now as it did
when I was boy" The famous Griffin
tavern had score of rooms up stairs for
the judges and the lawyers. There was
the large room for the chief justice 10
receive his associates aud friends by
night and exchange wit and learning
and merliment. When they quoted from
famous authors to point moral or adorn
tale it was from SHAKESPEARE and Mil
ton and Burns and Goldsmith and Pope
and Don Quixote and Washington Irv.
Ing and Walter Scott They studied
those standards, but nobody has time to
study them now. The best rendition of
"Tam OShahter" / ever heard was at
one of those receptions. But I did not
finish our cavalcade. The carriage had
high dickey.seat perched in front, and
there SAL old Virgil-a tall, digui6ed,
stammering darkey whose right to that
seat of honor and to flourish that whip
and wesr that stovepipe hat was an
cient and exclusive; not white child
in his masters family dared to interfere
with his privileges. On one occasion 1
remember he came to the front with
Grape on his hat, and when asked who
was dead, he said, Nobody amt dead,
but my cid 'oman powerful sick; must
die most any time, 30 got de mournin'
all ready, bless de Lord"
We were on our bridal trip to the falls
not Niagara, but Tallulah-and it was
journey of love and delightful pleasure.
Everything was rosy then. Oh, if we
could recall our youth. and find that
same old carriage and horses, and Virgil,
and drive up to the same old hotel and
have thai same reception by Griffin and
his good wife, I think would try it
over again. Yes, I think would. 1t is
beautiful country around Gainesville,
and its manifest destiny is to be a health
resort Tor the invalid, and the tired and
the restless. A change is what such
people want-cbauge of air, and water
and scenery. When we get our railroad
from Gainesville direct to Gainesville,
which w0 are sure to have, our people
will go there for change for their free.
stone, waller and their people will come
here for Dur limestone water. 1t takes
different kinds to suit different condi.
tions. My father never recovered from
his great infrmity until he removed
from Gwinnett to Floyd, and yet Gwin.
nett is healthy-very healthy. Gaines
vile will soon have railroad to Dalone.
ga, and that will open up another
splendid resort and bring Porter Springs
in reach Of the invalids and the pleasure
seekers. I love to see them travel, those
who have got plenty of money, for it
scstters il; but ours is always scattered
before we start. Gainesville has more
than doubled her populations since the
last census. There is now street rail.
road and four fine hotels, and bank,
and daily paper and two weeklies, and
a cotton factory going up, and two fine
colleges and graded school. The old
DR.. Banks mansion is still standing and
in good preservation. He was a famous
surgeon in his day, the most famous in
the State, and amassed fortune by his
profession. / went to school to an Irish.
man by the name of Gray, John Gray,
an eccentric and learned man, graduate
of Belfast. he quit teaching and studied
theology, and went down to Columbus to
be exam lined and licensed. Old DR..
Goulding was presiding, and Mr.. Gray
stood Dplendid examination and was
inst about to be admitted, when the veu-